Hiram follett



(No Model.)

H. FOLLETT. SHIPS RIGGING.

No. 449,472. Patented Mar. 31, 1891.,

m2 uunms PETERS co.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

IIIRAM FOLLETT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALE TO HENRY RUHL, F sAME PLACE.

SHIPS RIGGING.,

ZPECIFICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,472, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed August 20, 1890. Serial No. 862,528. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM FOLLETT, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Ships Rigging, of which the followi ngis a specifica- 'tion.

My invention relates to ships rigging, and is applicable more particularly to that class of vessels which are provided with a fore-and 1o aft sail, a top-mast, and cross-trees. In this class of vessels the gaff is raised by means of peak and throat halyards, which extend from the gaff, to which they are attached at one end, respectively, through blocks on the mast adjacent to the cross-trees and thence to the deck of the vessel on either side, where they are secured. These halyards, owing to the relative location of the blocks and cross-trees, rest against the latter, and as the sail shifts or jibes the blocks through which the halyards pass shift laterally, thereby causing the halyards to move laterally along the crosstrees in contact with the same. As a result of this constant movement of the halyards in contact with the cross-trees, the former are subjected to great wear and finally break, thereby precipitating the gaff and sail to the deck. The halyards are also subjected to wear when the sails are furled and unfurled, and, in fact, at every movement of the gait. Various means have been devised for preventing this wear, but as far as I am aware without success.

The aim of my invention is to prevent this 3 5 friction between the halyards and cross-tree and the consequent wear of the former; and to this end it consists in providing the crosstree with a moving guide adapted to receive the halyard and sustain it out of contact with the cross-trees.

I11 the accompanying drawings I have represented my improvement embodied in the preferred form; but it is to be understood that the device may be modified within the 5 range of mechanical skill without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a vessel and its rigging provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cross-trees and adjacent parts of the mast provided with my improvement. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my device detached from the cross-tree. Fig. 4 is a Vertical cross-section on the line mm, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the mast of a vessel; 0, the fore-and-aft sall; E, the gaff; F, the cross-trees; G, the top-mast;

H, the peak-halyard; I, the throat-ha1yardg J, the block through which the peak-halyard passes, and K the block through Which. the throat-halyard passes.

The foregoing parts may all be of ordinary constructionand in themselves form no part of my invention. 5

In carrying out my invention I secure to the rear cross-tree a supporting-bar L in such manner that it will be sustained at a slight distance therefrom. As shown in Fig. 3, this bar is bent at its ends at right angles to its length, and these bent ends, perforated for the passage of fastening-bolts Z, by means of which the bar is secured to the cross-trees. Upon this bar I mount two sliding eyes or guides M, adapted to receive the peak and 7 5 throat halyards. These sliding eyes or guides consist each of a central collar 0, provided with a peripheral groove 0, which receives a yoke P, which latter is formed at its ends with eyes 19, through which the supporting- 30 bar L loosely passes. As a result of this construction, the collar 0 is sustained by the yoke in such manner that it and the yoke may freely slide upon the bar. It will be noted that the groove in the collar receives the bar 5 at its front, which greatly facilitates its move i ment thereon. If desired, the supportingbar L may be further sustained upon the cross-tree by means of the central plate G; but this I do not deem essential. 0

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the halyards are passed through the sliding eyes M and the sail shifts or jibes, the blocks through which the halyards pass and which are secured at one end to the mast will shift laterally, causing a corresponding movement of the halyards and the sliding eyes" by which they are carried. As a result of the construction, the halyards are not subjected to friction with the cross-tree I00 and the consequent wear, and will at all times, notwithstanding the position of the gaff, ex-

tend in a straight line from the blocks to the deck. As a further result, the-furling and unfurling of the sail are greatly facilitated,

owing to the absence of friction which would 5 exist between the halyards and the crosstrees, were the latter not provided with the sliding guides. It is to be understood, of course, that but one sliding eye may be used in cases where but one halyard is employed, and that the sliding eye may be mounted in other ways to slide upon the bar, and that the supporting-bar may be arranged in front of the mast on the cross-trees instead of in rear thereof, the essence of the invention residing in the combination with the crosst-ree of a sliding guide for the halyard constructed to maintain the latterout of contact with the cross-tree.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I-claim is v 1. In a vessel, themast, the cross-tree thereon, the halyard secured to the sail, and the shifting-block mounted on the mast above the cross-tree to receive the halyard, in combination with a guide mounted on the crosstree, adapted to maintain the halyard out of contact with the cross-tree, substantially as described.

2, In avessel, the combination of the crosstree, the supporting-bar secured thereto and maintained at a slight distance therefrom, the yoke provided at its ends with eyes encircling the bar, and the collar embraced by the yoke and secured thereby between the same and the bar.

3. In combination with the mast, the crosstree thereon, the sail supported by the boom and gaff, the bar M, secured to the cross-tree, the sliding guides thereon, the blocks secured to the mast, and the peak and throat halyards passing, respectively, through the blocks and sliding guides.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 9th day of August, 1890, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

HIRAM FOLLETT. Witnesses:

Mosns NORRIS,

THOS. M. MORRIS. 

